Could Brianne live the rest of her life wondering each day whether he’d walk in the door alive and well? Did he even want to walk in her door or was he still tied to the notion of a short-term affair? Affair. Such a cold word for such a hot relationship.
A loud thumping noise reverberated through the car, startling her, and Brianne jumped in her seat. She glanced up to see a man’s fist pounding on the shatterproof glass window. “It’s Lowell. Open up.”
Brianne bit down on her lower lip and glanced at the cop in the front seat. Apparently he recognized Jake’s voice because he unlocked the doors and stepped out of the car. Minutes later, the front door swung shut, the back door flung open, and Brianne found herself facing Jake.
His face was flushed with anger, his jaw was clenched and his blue eyes were blazing with banked fury, but he remained silent. She winced in anticipation of the tirade she felt sure would come. He lifted his hands and braced her cheeks more strongly than was comfortable but still he said nothing.
She needed to break the tension. “Jake?”
He responded in the least expected way. He sealed his lips over hers, his mouth hard, hot and demanding. He didn’t ask, he took, and he pushed his tongue past her barely parted lips in a masterful act of possession. One so strong, she felt the pull both between her legs and deep inside. Sexually, he’d aroused her in an instant, but emotionally he tugged at her heart.
Just as she melted into him, he jerked his head back, breaking the kiss. “I needed to feel you were alive and okay.” He ran a shaking hand through his hair.
“I am.”
“I know. And now I can throttle you. What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled, the anger she’d expected flooding out.
She blinked hard. He’d never shouted at her before.
“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” Jake asked.
She shrugged lightly. “I did good, didn’t I?”
He lowered his hands from her face, probably to stop himself from squeezing her to death, Brianne thought.
“You could have gotten yourself killed.”
Her stomach churned at the thought.
“Why didn’t you call me instead of the department?”
She understood his anger and frustration. But she’d entered that store in part to keep Jake out of danger and in part to make sure Ramirez stayed behind bars this time. Calling Jake would have been an emotional reaction, so she’d refrained.
“Because I was afraid Ramirez’s lawyer would say any evidence I got was tainted. Is that the right word? You’re not on official duty and you have a grudge. I didn’t want him to claim entrapment and get off again.” She shrugged, and when he didn’t reply, she continued. “I was protecting you and your case. And afterward, I wanted to call you but the police wouldn’t let me. They said they’d handle things from here, put me in this patrol car and—”
His sharp exhale told her he’d accepted her explanation, although he was by no means calmer. “You need to give your statement, and then we’re going home,” he said tersely.
“I already gave information to an officer.”
“Lieutenant Thompson wants to talk to you, and you’ll need to give an official statement downtown. Then we’re going back to the penthouse and you’re not leaving there until Ramirez is behind bars.”
“Now that’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”
“You don’t want to test me right now, Brianne.”
His anger was palpable. So was his fear. He braced one arm on top of the back seat and leaned close. His masculine scent wrapped around her, overpowering her in the confines of the small car.
“You want to do exactly as I say and let me take you home.”
Her stomach did an excited flip at his insistent, severe tone. Reaching up, she touched her fingers to his cheek, then let them roam downward until she found the muscle in his jaw and massaged the side of his face. “I’m sorry I scared you,” she said softly.
He remained outwardly unaffected by her touch. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you if Ramirez had gotten a hold of you?”
She shivered. “He didn’t.”
“He could have.”
Neither his tone nor his expression showed any sign of softening, and her heart pounded in her chest. “Jake…”
Just then, a thunderous voice called his name and pounded on the top of the car. “Lowell, get the hell out here.”
“Sounds like someone’s not thrilled with you.” Brianne tried to see who was out there and couldn’t.
“Pretty much how I’m feeling about you right now,” Jake muttered.
She cringed when another thump sounded on the roof. “Now,” the male voice yelled.
She crossed her arms over her chest, bracing her hands around her forearms. “You’re being summoned.” And none too soon, she thought.
Jake nodded, then jerked open the car door and jumped out, slamming the door closed before she could make an exit of her own.
That was okay, Brianne thought. She could use the time to figure out how to neutralize Jake’s fury. Though she felt awful about scaring him, she refused to back down as if she’d done anything wrong. She’d put Jake first, before her fear. If given the choice again, she’d do the exact same thing.
AFTER AN EXHAUSTING couple of hours at the police station, Jake took Brianne home to the penthouse. The cops had confiscated the drugs, more than they’d thought they would get in one take, had herded up the restaurant employees and taken them downtown for questioning. Both Thompson and Jake felt certain one of them would give up Ramirez. No doubt about it—thanks to Brianne, they were this close to nailing the ringleader.
But Jake was beyond furious that she’d taken the risk and had no intention of letting up on her until she understood the gamble she’d taken and the peril she could have put herself in. For a woman who’d suffered a childhood fear of risk and sought to back away from people who thrived on the same, she had done something shocking. But knowing how Brianne had always taken control of her life, he realized now that he shouldn’t have been surprised—just pissed at himself for not out-thinking her first. Now he’d settle for dimming her enthusiasm.
Norton trotted beside them into the kitchen. Happy to see Brianne, he made himself her permanent shadow. “Good thing I got the doorman to take care of his walks,” Jake muttered. He was in no mood to take the dog out to do business now.
“You’re still upset.” Brianne walked ahead of him and tossed her bag onto the table, then whirled to face him.
He held on to his composure by a slender thread. “Why would I be upset?” he asked with thinly veiled sarcasm.
Her green eyes met his. “I can think of a number of reasons.”
“So can I. For one thing I had to relinquish control of questioning the employees to Duke and Vickers.” But that was the least of his concerns, he acknowledged silently.
“I heard Lieutenant Thompson say that without a physical you weren’t going anywhere near this case again,” she said softly.
“Well, I can blame myself for that,” Jake said bitterly.
When he’d set out to rehabilitate in private, he’d known he was risking the official part of the job. Since in his gut he knew he hadn’t wanted to return, he’d thought the undercover work he’d accomplish in private would be worth it. But he hadn’t figured Brianne’s blasted independence into the equation. He hadn’t thought he’d need to.
“I can let them know how good you’re doing. How I think you could pass a basic physical.”
“Could I?” Their therapy sessions had been minimal. They’d opted instead for personal time.
“Let’s face it, Jake. Your shoulder’s doing better than I thought. You don’t really need private, daily therapy. I can help quicken your path back to work.” She offered him the solution with hope shining in her eyes. “I’d do that for you, no matter how I feel about your putting yourself in danger.”
He didn’t want her in danger, either, but she
didn’t seem to comprehend that. But he recognized her selfless offer and he groaned. He didn’t want his feelings for her to soften. Not while he was still justifiably angry.
“Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.”
He didn’t need her help getting him back on a job he didn’t want. It was just the Ramirez case he’d needed closure on.
“Suit yourself.” Brianne moved closer.
His sister had a huge penthouse with Lord knows how many rooms, but the kitchen was too small to hold Jake and Brianne. Not without a lot of sexual awareness flowing between them, anyway. She took another step toward him. He held his ground but he wasn’t happy. Her strawberry scent hit him like a punch in the gut.
So did her pleading words. “Don’t be angry with me, Jake. I didn’t get hurt and I knew what I was doing. I had a plan, I had pepper spray—”
“Which would have done you a lot of good when facing a drug-dealing cop killer!” His stomach turned over, and he gripped the nearest chair with both hands.
Her eyes blazed bright, alive with the knowledge of a job well done and a sense of accomplishment. Jake ought to know. He recognized what she was feeling, having experienced the rush often himself. If he’d thought he had a chance of making her see reason, she’d killed that hope.
“Do me a favor?” he asked.
Her eyebrows lifted in question.
“Keep quiet. Because every time you speak, you make things worse, not better.”
A muscle ticked in her jaw. “You’re one to talk. You’re the one who’s willing to make yourself a walking target for Ramirez. Now you’re angry I did the same?”
“You’re damn right I’m angry. If I’d gone after Ramirez, I’d have been doing my job. You were an inexperienced civilian ducking out on a bodyguard hired to protect you.” He forcibly stopped himself from pointing his finger at her or reacting in any other physical way.
But he realized he was yelling and took a step back. His behind hit the counter, and he found himself trapped between the cabinets and her lush body. A body he wanted even now, despite—or was it because of—the heated argument.
Apparently unaware she was crossing a boundary, she pointed her finger at him. “You’re on leave.”
That she didn’t hesitate to remind him or incite his anger further told him much about her current state of mind. She wasn’t falling back into trembling or fear. She wasn’t having an anxiety attack. She was enjoying herself—both catching Ramirez and arguing with Jake.
Jake had to admit that a part of him was enjoying it, too. And he was turned on by her strength as well as her beauty. However, he was still angry and needed her to understand the seriousness of her situation. Now that they’d closed down Ramirez’s shop, the dealer would feel cornered. He wouldn’t know which of his flunkies was rolling over on him, or who he could trust.
Ramirez would have no qualms about lashing out, especially at the cops, and at Jake—which meant Brianne had to be careful. The lieutenant had doubled the protection on Frank’s family, and he’d agreed to have Rina checked out in Italy to be certain. That left Brianne. She had to accept backup. She couldn’t run off on her own again, and Jake intended to make that clear.
But the ringing of the telephone prevented him from speaking. He reached for it. “Lowell.”
“It’s Vickers.”
Brianne glanced at Jake and mouthed, Who is it?
He raised one silencing finger in the air. “I’m listening,” he said.
“The chef turned on Ramirez. We got his statement and the address of his new lab. Then just as we’re ready to go on down there, Ramirez calls us. Says he’ll turn himself in.”
Jake was suspicious. “What’s the catch?”
“You’re it, buddy. He wants you in residence. Says he won’t risk walking toward us while you put a bullet in his back.”
Only a coward would shoot someone in the back, Jake thought. And only a coward would worry about someone doing it to him. “I’m there,” he told Vickers, and hung up.
Jake turned to Brianne. “I have to go to the station.”
She nodded. “Ramirez?” she asked.
“Yes.” For a split second, he saw a hint of the old fear in her eyes before she quickly masked it. But her determination to fight her fear and her proven willingness to take chances led him to the conclusion that he couldn’t trust her on her own. Not without a promise in return.
“What’s going on exactly?” she asked.
“Give me a minute.”
“Okay.” She nodded, wary but willing.
Brianne lowered herself into the kitchen chair, while he disappeared out the doorway. She figured he had some things to get from his room, and that was fine. She started to bite her nails, something she’d never done before, while she sought to figure out a way to get him to either tell her what was going on or take her along with him.
He returned, looking sexy and all male in his faded denim jeans and a black T. She jumped up from her seat and grabbed his arm.
“Relax, okay? I’ll be back in a little while.”
His words did little to calm her nerves, but she sat back down. “Where are you going?”
He narrowed his gaze. “If I tell you, will you promise to sit tight while I’m gone?”
She let out a huge sigh of frustration, knowing she could do no such thing. “How can I promise when I don’t know what you’re going to tell me?”
“Brianne, please make this easy on me. I’ll tell you the truth and you’ll promise to stay here where it’s safe.” He pinned her with those gorgeous eyes—eyes that were pleading.
She wanted to agree and knew that she couldn’t. If he was so desperate to extract this promise, she felt certain he was going to put himself in danger. There was no way she could sit around and wait while he did. “Tell me where you’re going and let me judge for myself whether or not I can make that promise.”
He rubbed his neck. “Ramirez is going to turn himself in. I’m going downtown to meet him.”
She was surprised that Ramirez would give up so easily and shocked that Jake had entrusted her with his destination. And then his words sunk in. “You’re going to the station? I thought you were on leave and forbidden from going anywhere near the wrap-up of this case.”
He rolled his eyes. “Dammit, did you have to be so smart? I don’t have time for this. Ramirez wants me there when he turns himself in.” He leaned over her, obviously taking advantage of his size and making use of police intimidation tactics. “Now promise me you’ll stay put till I get back.”
“No.” She wouldn’t let herself be bullied any more than she’d let him walk into danger alone.
“I don’t know when you developed this stubborn streak…”
“I’ve always had it. When I love someone, I stick by them. Just ask Marc.”
His eyes opened wide but he didn’t say anything, and Brianne refused to take back the words she’d tossed out. They weren’t careless or spoken in haste. She meant them and saying them aloud confirmed her feelings.
“Take me with you.” Her pulse pounded out a rapid beat.
“No. Last chance, Brianne. Promise me you won’t leave, and I promise I’ll be back soon.”
They were at a stalemate. “I want to but I can’t.” She grabbed on to the chair and started to rise. “Please understand.”
“I hope you do,” he muttered under his breath, and reached behind him. “Because I can’t risk something happening to you, like what happened to Frank.”
His dead partner, Brianne thought. And the next thing she knew Jake had snapped a pair of handcuffs around her wrist and shackled her other hand to the chair. Her gaze darted in disbelief between the cuffs and his pained face. “You wouldn’t.” But he just had.
“You left me no choice. You’ve already proven you’ll go off half-cocked if left alone. If you’d promised, I’d have taken your word.” He held his hand out in front of her in complete supplication.
He picked his keys up off the tabl
e and flicked on the small television in the kitchen, then handed her the remote control. He walked out, only to return a second later with a magazine that he placed in front of her on the table. “I’m sorry, but you gave me no choice.”
“Tell it to someone who cares,” she muttered.
She watched him leave, and betrayal lay like lead in her stomach. Brianne didn’t give a damn that he obviously felt bad or that he’d apologized. She also didn’t give a fig that she’d brought this on herself by refusing to promise.
If she had, she would have been lying, and she refused to lie to Jake. She yanked hard, but the metal cuffs were attached to a metal chair and neither would budge. Furious, she grabbed the magazine and began flipping through it, not really paying attention to what she saw. But when the minutes ticked by and Brianne realized he wasn’t coming back, she had no choice but to settle in for the duration.
From the mailing label on the front, Brianne knew the magazine belonged to Rina, and she hoped for some interesting reading. She glanced at the television. Trashy talk shows weren’t going to be enough of a distraction. She swallowed over the pain in her throat.
She crossed her legs and began to flip through the pages once more, stopping only when she reached the article entitled, “Sexy City Nights.” “Lovers in New York City.” “Hot Spots, Hot Nights, Hotter Sheets.” Brianne laughed despite herself, but when she caught a glimpse of the photos, she stopped and looked closer. In the first, dusk was setting around a couple outside an ice-cream shop, and memories of Brianne’s night at Peppermint Park with Jake came flooding back into her mind.
When she thought of that night, it wasn’t the sex that stood out, although it had been incredible. And it wasn’t the dessert, although the rich treat had been delicious. What stood out was how hard Jake had tried to pick a place that would mean something to her. How he’d attempted to give back what she’d been deprived of in the past. And how he’d believed her when she’d questioned him about being followed. He may not have revealed his suspicions, but he hadn’t discounted hers, either. Not the way her parents had, way back when.
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